Recognizing the growing health care needs in northern St. Johns County, Flagler Hospital today announced that it has completed the acquisition of 60 acres located one half mile east of the International Golf Parkway and Pacetti Road junction. The land was purchased from Richard Pacetti for an undisclosed amount, and supports the hospital's future growth strategies.

"Flagler Hospital traditionally serves families living south of County Highway 210," said hospital President Joe Gordy. "This is one of the fastest growing areas in the nation, and we needed to make a significant acquisition to be sure we can satisfy health care needs in future years."

Flagler Health Care System, Inc. the hospital's parent organization, identified northern St. Johns County, northern Flagler County and eastern Putnam County as areas for expansion of its medical facilities.

Jason Barrett, Senior Vice President said, "This property offers more flexibility than our initial land investment because the additional space opens possibilities for a full service acute care hospital." In October of 2005 the hospital purchased 12 acres on the corner of State Road 16 and Pacetti Road.

While the hospital is in the initial planning stages, services and facilities will be established in three phases, with timing to coincide with population growth and related community health care needs.

Initial plans include a 10,400 square foot ambulatory urgent care center, and a 34,000 medical office building, both to be opened in mid-2008. The urgent care center will be staffed by 10-15 health care providers including doctors, nurses and staff, and will include imaging capabilities. The office building will offer an opportunity for physicians and surgeons to have a local presence in the area.

The second phase will include an ambulatory surgery center with more robust imaging capability, while phase three plans include a full service acute care hospital.

Jason Barrett said that the completed project will total 310,000 square feet, employ about 300 hospital staff and an additional 100 physicians, with salaries totaling roughly $15M.Build out of Phase I will cost nearly $9M, Phase 2 will cost another $11M and Phase 3 will come in at about $70M. Imaging, operating room and other medical equipment will add another estimated $25M.

Peter Bacon, Director of Marketing & Strategic Planning said that the facility planning and design will continue for several years, with ongoing needs assessment studies to ensure that Flagler Hospital can deliver health care services as they are needed.

Flagler Hospital is a 316 bed acute care hospital serving St. Augustine and surrounding Florida communities. Flagler Hospital is the region’s only hospitals to receive the ANCC Magnet hospital award and is recognized nationally for overall clinical excellence. Flagler Hospital is the recipient of the HealthGrades 2006 Patient Safety Award, the Solucient 100 Top Hospitals Performance Improvement Award, the Healthgrades 2006 Cardiac Care Award, and was named the 2006 Best Place to Work by the Jacksonville Business Journal. Flagler Hospital currently operates a medical office complex in Palm Coast.